EASTON, Pa. - The Lafayette women's basketball team opened its season with a win on Friday evening, turning the tides of a program that finished last season on a nine-game losing streak. The Leopards took care of the Ramblers from Loyola Chicago, 62-51.

Junior Danielle Fiacco led the way, recording a double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds. Classmate Madeline Fahan tied her career-high with 16 points to lead Lafayette in scoring. The Leopards went 24-59 from the field (40.7%) and outrebounded Loyola, 45-42.

With reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Year Emily Homan on the bench with an injury, Lafayette struggled to find its way on offense in the first half, missing multiple tough shots in the paint. Freshman Jamie O'Hare controlled the offense, making her first collegiate start in her opening game.

The Leopards jumped out to a 14-10 lead early with contributions from juniors Kelly Loughney and Fiacco, but fell into a slump, allowing 14 straight from the Ramblers to fall behind 24-14 with just over five and a half minutes remaining.

Lafayette bounced back, fighting to within five points with two minutes left and trailing by nine going into the break, 36-27.

Head coach Dianne Nolan came out in the second half switching defenses, trading off between zone and man-to-man to try to confuse the Ramblers offensive attack. The strategy seemed to be working as the Leopards cut the lead to five at 15:45, the first media timeout.

Continuing to play stout defense, sophomore Brya Freeland found a wide open Fahan in secondary transition, who drained one from outside to give Lafayette its first lead since the 9:50 mark in the first half, 40-38. The Ramblers finally got on the board from the charity stripe with 12:23 remaining, ending a period of just under six minutes without a point.

With 4:45 left to play, Fiacco looked to be breaking down a defender in the low post. Instead, she stepped across the lane and found an open Freeland on the opposite wing, who knocked it down from long distance to give the Leopards the 58-47 advantage and their first double-digit lead of the evening. Lafayette would manage its way through the final few minutes and come out on top with the 62-51 victory.

Next up for the Leopards is a trip to South Orange, N.J. to take on the Seton Hall Pirates at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Lafayette Athletics, as a partner in the mission of the
College, provides an incredibly effective learning experience for
student-athletes through competitive NCAA Division I athletics. Lafayette
sponsors 23 varsity sports with more than 600 student-athletes.